Bruno Senna has admitted he is hoping to be retained by Renault for 2012.

The Brazilian stepped into the black and gold R31 earlier this season to replace Nick Heidfeld, who had been signed as injured regular Robert Kubica’s initial substitute.

Senna, 28, has had mixed form during his seven races so far in 2011, describing his season as “interesting” on Brazilian SporTV.

“In terms of learning, it has been very difficult,” he conceded on the sports programme Arena.

“I started in the middle and had to learn to use KERS and the moving wing (DRS), and the lack of experience and mileage impaired me a little,” said Senna, ahead of his second home race at Interlagos this weekend.

And his thoughts are already set beyond the season finale, with his mother Viviane revealing last week that they are in negotiations with Renault for 2012.

“I have no contract with any team for next year,” Senna clarified. “The intention is to stay at Renault,” he added, referring to the Enstone based team that in 2012 will be called Lotus.

“In formula one it is all about performance, and the team is happy with mine.”

In a separate interview, he told O Estado de S.Paulo: “I am trying my hardest to stay in this seat.

“It depends on (Robert) Kubica, on (Romain) Grosjean, on sponsorship, a lot of things that, unfortunately, are not under my control.

“We have to get all the factors coming together,” the Paulista explained.

On injured Pole Kubica’s possible 2012 return, Senna added: “The team isn’t going to wait until the middle of next year to decide. I hope it doesn’t take too long.”

Buoyed by his impressive form in Abu Dhabi last week, Jean-Eric Vergne thinks he would do as good a job in formula one as Mark Webber.

Frenchman Vergne, the latest cream of Red Bull’s development programme, tested Sebastian Vettel’s title-winning RB7 during the young driver test and was fastest in all six sessions over the course of the three days.

Already Toro Rosso’s Friday driver, the 21-year-old is scheduled to practice with Sebastien Buemi’s car in Brazil and is considered a hot contender to replace the Swiss full-time in 2012.

But he also thinks he would be ready to be Vettel’s teammate at the senior team.

“When I came back (from the test) I saw the comments of (engineering boss) Ian Morgan and they were very positive, I cannot hide it,” Vergne is quoted as saying by French newsmagazine Le Nouvel Observateur.

“I know that the top teams are cautious of young drivers; the only one (McLaren) that dared to go with a young guy recently was Hamilton, and it worked.

“We have had a similar preparation; I did three days of testing and physically had no problems.

“So I think if I was put in the Red Bull, I would do no worse than Webber. That’s my impression, anyway, after these tests.

“But I know that the road is still long and where I go next is Brazil. This is my last practice session with Toro Rosso before I know what I will be doing next season,” he added.

Dr Helmut Marko has admitted his disappointment with Lewis Hamilton’s apparent return to form.

After a tumultuous season, not only was the McLaren driver smiling again after the recent Abu Dhabi race, he was also holding aloft the winner’s trophy.

Marko, Red Bull’s motor sport consultant, insisted after the Yas Marina event that had Sebastian Vettel not retired with a blown tyre, Briton Hamilton might not have been smiling so widely.

Nonetheless, he told Auto Motor und Sport: “For us, we would not have minded if Hamilton had stayed quiet for even longer.

“When he is back at 100 per cent, Mr Hamilton is a dangerous opponent,” Austrian Marko admitted.

The German report said Marko and Red Bull fear McLaren – the famous British team that has surged back to top form during the course of 2011 – more than Ferrari or Mercedes.

“They are like a terrier biting a bit more with each race,” he smiled. “McLaren emerge from every crisis, which shows the class of a racing team.”

McLaren’s obvious target for 2012 is, unlike in recent years, to not just end a season on terms with Red Bull, but also to begin it with a winning car.

“Our car is always as good as the Red Bull eventually,” Hamilton is quoted as saying. “It would be helpful for the future if we get there earlier than we have been.”

Nico Rosberg has admitted he had talks about switching to McLaren while he was under contract to Williams some years ago.

“It’s true, there was a first discussion, but there was never the possibility of changing because I had a contract already,” the German told Kolner Express newspaper.

“So it wasn’t a topic for me at all,” added Rosberg, who now drives for Mercedes. “I am glad that I was with Williams and now Mercedes is my challenge.”

Highly competitive alongside seven time world champion Michael Schumacher in the last two seasons, the 26-year-old has even been linked with Ferrari.

But despite failing to record a single race win after more than a century of attempts, Rosberg insists he is happy.

He even thinks Mercedes, with its iconic Silver Arrows, is just as prestigious a brand as the Prancing Horse.

“Definitely, if not even more so,” he insisted.

“More and more I see those old videos with Fangio from the 50s; the history of the Silver Arrows is very impressive. I’ve said it before that winning in a Silver Arrow is my dream.”

Pedro de la Rosa has revealed he would love to see Kimi Raikkonen return to formula one.

The 2007 world champion is linked with a seat at Williams, with the British team reportedly set to announce its 2012 lineup within the week.

“For now it’s only a rumour but I would welcome it,” said Spaniard de la Rosa, who worked alongside the Finn at McLaren five years ago.

“He is one the drivers that I worked best with,” the McLaren reserve driver is quoted by Spanish reports. “He is such a natural talent and F1 is better with him than without him.

“Formula one is his place and I am glad to hear that he has been training hard.

“He is a tough opponent but of course it depends on what Williams can do. They have had a very bad year but for sure Kimi is going to strengthen them.”

HRT F1 Team continues to take important strides towards the consolidation of its solid project for 2012. After the recent technical announcements and with the new headquarters established in Spain, HRT takes a further step forward by announcing that Pedro de la Rosa will be a driver for the team next season. Reaching an agreement with the driver from Barcelona was a long desired target and a fundamental pillar for HRT F1 Team in its renewed project, which began in July after Thesan Capital acquired the team.

Pedro de la Rosa will join the team next January and will do so for two years. The alliance was possible thanks to the interest of all the parties involved; although in the end it was the support of his current team, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, which enabled the deal to come through.

Born on the 24th of February 1971 in Barcelona, Pedro de la Rosa has been a pioneer in Spanish motorsports and has built up a prestigious reputation worldwide through his results in Formula 1 over the years. He is, without a doubt, an important acquisition for HRT F1 Team for the 2012 campaign.

Pedro de la Rosa: “This is a very important step in my sporting career and one of the most meditated ones I’ve taken. I’m at a very good stage in terms of maturity and am prepared to take on this challenge, which motivates me hugely. When deciding on joining this project, for me there were three decisive factors: my desire to return to the active competition, the fact that HRT is a Spanish team and getting to know the people leading this project, Luis Pérez-Sala being amongst them. I’m here to work hard, with modesty and humility, accepting where we are now but keeping in mind where we want to be in 2 years time. For me, this is the time to put into practice everything that I have learnt over the years at international top level racing teams so that we can grow together. I am proud that Spain has an F1 team and that I have this opportunity to be its driver. I can only show my gratitude towards HRT for having trusted in me for this. Lastly, I can’t forget to thank McLaren for allowing me to take this step. I have been very happy over the eight seasons I spent with them, growing as a driver and person. Without them I wouldn’t be here today”.

Colin Kolles, HRT Team Principal: “The team’s objective has always been to reinforce itself in every aspect: economically, technically and in a sporting aspect. Without a doubt, the addition of Pedro de la Rosa for next year will be a fundamental foundation in the development of our project. We are a young team that needs to continue progressing and with this incorporation I am convinced that we will do just that. Apart from being a great person he is an experienced driver as his career and prestige in Formula 1 prove. I give him my most sincere welcome. I am sure that he will adapt perfectly and that together we will achieve great things”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, HRT Sports Advisor: “We have been working very hard for months on next season with the aim of making HRT F1 Team a more stable, competitive and reliable team and, little by little, this hard work is paying off. Having Pedro on board for this project is great news and with his ability and experience we are sure that we can take an important stride. I would like to thank Pedro for his trust and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for its predisposition to reach a positive agreement for everybody”.

All interested media are summoned to a press conference taking place tomorrow, Tuesday the 22nd of November, at 12.30hrs at the “Consejo Superior de Deportes” in Madrid (Martín Fierro St.). Pedro de la Rosa, Saúl Ruiz de Marcos (HRT F1 Team, CEO), Luis Pérez-Sala (HRT F1 Team, Sports Advisor) and Carlos Gracia (RFEdA President) will be attending the conference.

Please confirm attendance to:
• Maria Serrat: maria.serrat@hrtf1team.com, +34 647 370 231
• Claudia Cuello: claudia.cuello@pedrodelarosa.com, +34 647 74 24 35

Like his teammate Rubens Barrichello, Pastor Maldonado might also be feeling nervous about his Williams race seat beyond Sunday’s 2011 season finale.

Last time out in Abu Dhabi, team boss Sir Frank Williams admitted that, despite Maldonado’s lucrative sponsorship by the state owned Venezuelan oil company PDVSA, it is “not clear exactly who will be in both cars” next year.

Days later, it emerged that the Venezuelan parliament has been asking questions about Williams’ PDVSA deal, with Speed Week reporting that it may not be “in compliance” with normal government approval processes.

Williams did not respond when asked for confirmation that Venezuelan politicians have been in contact.

But if the money is in danger, then so too would be rookie Maldonado’s seat, with the deal said to be worth more than $30 million a year to the famous British team.

Rubens Barrichello has revealed he is working overtime to extend his formula one career into a twentieth consecutive season in 2012.

Williams is considering replacing the 39-year-old veteran after his home race at Interlagos on Sunday, with a well-heeled quartet featuring Kimi Raikkonen, Adrian Sutil, Valtteri Bottas and Giedo van der Garde reportedly all in the running.

So, ahead of what could be his 322nd and last race this weekend, Barrichello has told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper that he has been working hard behind the scenes to compete with the sponsor money on offer.

“My desire to continue in formula one is such that in the last two months I visited more companies than I did in 1990, when I was looking for sponsors to race overseas,” he said.

“We are offering an unique form of participation (for a sponsor); not just brand exposure but something personalised — ‘tailor-made’ as the English would say,” added Barrichello.

He acknowledged that it is tempting for his bosses Sir Frank Williams and Adam Parr to sign someone else because they can offer more money.

“But they know that they can count on me for the speed and for the experience,” insisted the former Ferrari driver.

Barrichello said he is not new to uncertainty, revealing that early in 2009 he risked losing his Brawn seat because the former Honda team was struggling for money.

“Ross Brawn said that I needed money to finish the championship. So if after the fourth race someone else came with sponsorship then I would have to give up,” he said.

Two years on, he is now relying on more than just his own efforts to realise his dream of extending his already longest-ever F1 career even further.

“I have a tattoo on my arm with the initials of my children, F for Fernando and E for Eduardo,” Barrichello explained.

“The guy who gave it to me suggested putting an accent on so it becomes faith (fe), which I loved because I am a man of faith,” he said.

But what if, despite his faith, Barrichello is left without a seat for 2012?

“Then I am a happy person and, yes, I have to be prepared for anything. I have to stop one day. And if this is god’s will then I will follow that path and perhaps it will be even better for my children as they grow up,” he answered.

Valtteri Bottas has admitted he would like to sign up as Williams’ Friday morning test driver in 2012.

The Finnish GP3 driver, who contested the prestigious Macau F3 race at the weekend, was the famous British team’s official test driver this year.

He tested the FW33 in Abu Dhabi last week and impressed team manager Dickie Stanford, according to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

“He is a really good driver,” Stanford is quoted as saying.

“It was his first real test for us and he made a big impact. Valtteri is relaxed, intelligent and very good at what he does,” he added.

Until now, the 22-year-old has not been regarded by the media as a serious candidate for a race seat, but he reportedly also has some sponsorship on offer.

He said: “Nothing for next year is signed, but I don’t see any reason why the testing role with Williams will not continue.

“It would be really great if I could do the Friday mornings at the grands prix, as testing is so limited that it would help a lot when talking about 2013.”

Williams’ decision about its 2012 driver lineup is nearing.

Writing in Germany’s Speed Week, Peter Hesseler said the famous British team “plans to decide within a week” who will be driving the two cars next season.

“This is what shareholder Toto Wolff is saying,” he revealed.

On the face of it, Pastor Maldonado’s seat is safe, but reports say his lucrative backing by state owned oil company PDVSA is set to be investigated by the Venezuelan parliament.

In reality, it is Rubens Barrichello who is the most worried, with a trio of candidates including Kimi Raikkonen, Adrian Sutil and Valterri Bottas all reportedly in the running.

Italy’s Autosprint reports that Raikkonen is “ready to sign” a one-season deal so that he is free to switch to Mercedes, presumably to replace Michael Schumacher, in 2013.

The report said Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is also a contender.

 Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that public floatation might be more likely than a sale in the event current owners CVC want to offload formula one’s commercial rights.
A consortium headed by News Corp has expressed interest in bidding for the lucrative rights, as have the F1 teams in becoming shareholders.

But chief executive Ecclestone told the Telegraph: “If I wanted to dispose of the company today I would float it in Singapore or Hong Kong.”

He added that “it would be better to float the company in Singapore than sell it”.

Writing in the British newspaper, journalists Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid said there were attempts to float F1 in London in the 90s “but they failed due to an anti-competition investigation by the European Commission”.

The writers explain that Ecclestone believes the “accelerating interest in the sport in Asia is too hard to ignore”.

Adrian Newey has admitted that one of the only things that has held him back from switching to Ferrari is his family.
The Briton, who has also won titles with UK based McLaren and Williams, is regarded as the best technical mind in formula one and instrumental to Red Bull’s current run of dominance.

So has he thought about moving to Ferrari, F1′s most evocative marque?

“There is no particular reason (why he has not), there has just never been the right time for it to occur,” Newey told Spain’s Canal 9.

“Also, my family and my children are in England and so it would be an upheaval for them to have to go to live in Italy.

“It is a shame,” he acknowledged, “because it is a great team and while many drivers covet driving for Ferrari one day, the same goes for engineers.”

Meanwhile, Newey denied recent reports that his next F1 car, the 2012 Red Bull RB8, will be completely different to the current single seater.

“People think I said that, but I did not,” he insisted.

“It will be an evolution of the (2009) RB5, the car that started this series,” Newey explained. “Last year’s car was based on it and so was this one (2011). RB5 is the father of them all.”

Reports that Kimi Raikkonen is also eyeing the Renault team for next season appear accurate, with Eric Boullier confirming contact with the 2007 world champion.
Asked about the former McLaren and Ferrari race winner on Friday, Renault chief Boullier answered: “What about him? I have just explained how we want to go about our driver lineup for next season.”

Boullier had told F1.com that if Robert Kubica cannot return from injury in 2012, Romain Grosjean is at the top of the list to join Bruno Senna or Vitaly Petrov.

The Frenchman said “the driver market is closed anyway for 2012 so our priority is not to have a big name in the car but to have a fast car”.

But Boullier also acknowledged that a “big name” driver would “help to make the car better”, hence the Raikkonen question.

“Yes, there has been contact (with Raikkonen),” he told the interviewer. “Look at this call,” added Boullier, holding up his mobile phone. “This was from his manager.”

It was previously believed that Vitaly Petrov was definitely locked in for one 2012 seat, having signed a contract, but then came the Russian’s astonishing outburst during an interview and the admission he might be ousted.

“Some steps on the matter have already been taken,” admitted his manager Oksana Kossatchenko to RIA-Novosti news agency.

“The team’s management decided to limit Vitaly Petrov’s communication with the media,” she revealed.

Honda could be looking to return to formula one in 2014, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
The report said the Japanese manufacturer, having pulled out of formula one as an engine and chassis maker in 2008, might reunite with McLaren, the currently Mercedes-powered team.

Between 1998 until 1991, Honda won four consecutive world championships with the famous British team.

“The chances are good that with the introduction of the turbo V6s in 2014, Honda will celebrate a comeback with McLaren,” read the German report.

The Woking based team’s current engine supplier Mercedes, formerly a McLaren co-owner, will actually charge McLaren for the use of its 2.4 litre V8s in 2013, the report added.

“A senior manager said at Suzuka that technically Honda is getting ready to return with a turbo V6 from 2014. Only the green light of the board is missing,” said Auto Motor und Sport.

 Eric Boullier has played down Vitaly Petrov’s widely reported attack on the Renault team.
The Russian driver’s manager Oksana Kossatchenko said on Friday that the 27-year-old had apologised for the “emotional” outburst.

His boss Boullier also played down the remarks by explaining that they were originally said to Russian television immediately after the Abu Dhabi race.

“The race was tough, he was upset not to have scored points, he was exhausted,” said the Frenchman. “Drivers are not robots, they’re human beings.

“We take this incident as exactly this — an incident. Vitaly has apologised to the team and sent an email to all the staff at Enstone. As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed.”